The weakest planet in a natal chart will typically show us to which of the classical “Deadly Sins” one is the most prone.For many of us, we will have more than one such planet, or at least a very bad planet connected to peregrine planets which can be easily influenced by their bad friends.Let us look at Justin Timberlake’s chart again:

Earlier, we looked at his natal Sun, and determined that it was very afflicted due to its position in Aquarius, the sign of its detriment.Also, it was afflicted because it was in the sixth house of illness, a traditionally malefic house.The trine to the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Libra was probably not helpful, not the least because Jupiter and Saturn are in the fall of the Sun.However, I do not think that the Sun is the biggest problem for Timberlake.I would bet that his biggest challenge is his Mercury in Pisces in the seventh house of partners and other people.Because the Sun is stashed away in a cadent house, it cannot act very strongly.So it may be a baddie in this chart, but it cannot exercise its influence.

However, Mercury is in its detriment and fall in Pisces, and it is angular, so it is well able to cast its negative influence over Timberlake’s life.No other planet seems particularly able to help it, or keep it in check, certainly not by aspect, though it may experience some help from Jupiter, due to their mutual reception (triplicity and sign).The challenge here is that Mercury is the only angular planet in Timberlake’s chart, so it will pop up again and again in all areas of his life.Most likely, it will describe Timberlake’s partners, and we can assume that his relationships will not be particularly easy as a result.

Taking a big picture view of the chart, Mercury’s deadly sin is envy.Seeing it in the seventh house gives us the sense that there is a strong tendency here to constantly compare oneself against other people, and focusing on what others have that the native does not.The reception with Jupiter, ruler of the fifth house, shows that this tendency is what drives Timberlake’s creative side to some extent.In that sense, it is a positive and productive expression.However, Mercury being as weak as it is here will not give us a great artist, though it certainly may produce a successful one.The royal star Regulus on the Ascendant does not hurt in this respect.

We can do this with any horoscope, so here’s the list of the deadly sins associated with each planet.When the planet is weak, the associated sin will most likely be an important obstacle that the person will have to surmount.

Saturn — greed

Jupiter — gluttony

Mars — anger

Sun — pride

Venus — lust

Mercury — envy

Moon — sloth

—Readers who are interested in a natal reading from Nina Gryphon may contact her via her reading requests form.